The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-10-13
NO.. 3.
TRIPLE MURDER,
Tragedy Near Madison, Ga.--A Negro Nor
Kills Three Members of His Family.


hlls Three Members of His Family.
A special from Madison, Ga. TO the
Atlanta Constitution says:
Tho people of Morgan county are
aroused by the news of O terrible family
tragedy which took place some time be-
tween Saturday night and Sunday morn
ing. About O'Clock on Sunday morn
ing the clatter of horses feet were heard
ny Marshal Beardon, the rider exclaim-
md in great excitement as he rode in.
II want doctor! L want the sheriff.
Old man Dow Locket is dead! Aunt
Lucy and Mollie have their throats ont
and are dying"
Inc rider was q negro, named Bill,
Who, worked on the plantation of MIR.
Anthony Fannin, three miles from
town. Upon the same plantation lived
DOW Locket, venerable old negro, and
his wife Lucy. They had but one child
with them, their daughter Mollie, Sew
eral years ago she accepted the love of
Alexander Morris, hand working upon
an adjoining plantation. For o while
al went well, until jealousy entered the
healt OF Morris, and after that there was
but little peace. He whipped his wife
frequently, and abused hor so that she
was afraid Of her life. Early last week
ho went home one night and renewed his
cruel treatment. He beat her until she
1el exhausted in n faint. Some time
during the night her consciousness re-
turned, when she found her husband
sleeping soundly beside her. Stealthily
she arose, and, slipping out Of the house.
ran i'll desperation to the home of her
parents, where she obtained refuge.
"About an hour ago, said the rider.
~ heard terrible screams, which were
preceded by gunshot. Running out I
saw man at Locket's front door, pull
ing q woman out, kicking her, and cut
ting wildly at her with q knife. The
neIghbors began to gather, when the
man ran off, and by the time the nature
OF his work was known he had disap-
peared entirely. The woman in the
! yard was Mollie, the wife of Aleck
Morris. Her throat was cut clean across
The people won't in and found that
Lockett was dead, while his wife was
almost dead, with her throat cut clean
across, just like her daughters outside.
Then ] jumped on my horse and rode
into town after DOCTOR"
n party was at once organized, con-
Slstlng of the coroner, shoritf and several
others, who reached tho scene of the
tragedy at daylight Hundreds of ex-
cltcd neglocs had gathered at the place.
among whom the excitement was in
tense. All agreed that they would lynch
tho murderer if they could get him.
| Ihc most tiondish forms Of torture were
proposed for Morris. The wounded
WHO saId that her husband camo to the
house, rs he claimed, to effect a recon-
citation, and wanted his wife to 20 back
with him. This she refused to do. He
then said ho would stay oil night. When
bedtime came Lockot went to bed,
/ sleeping on n pallet on the floor, while
his wife, Lucy, got into the bod, in the
corner OF the room, and Mollie got on O.
! bed III the opposite side. What follow
| eel can best Dc told in her own words. as
told your correspondents:
| sDnd went to sleep about 10 o'clock.
ana was soon snooHins--.-Mnm talked
awhile, and she, too, fell asleep, and left
Aleck sitting in the door. He wanted
me to go back with him, an sorter
promised to go. l was 'fraid of him,
n+then wanted to get some money Of
minc ho had, and L Just talked kinder
good to him. BY and by L fell asleep.
When l. walked up L looked over to see
mann stopping over dads pallet trying
to put out tho fire. His cover was
ablaHc and the r1om was full of smoke.
just then l saw " man spring on nam
and throw her to tho floor. She sorter
choked, and | jumped out Of bed. It
WAS AlCck. He LETT mann and spran0
upon me, dragging me out tho door to
the ground. saw knife in his hand,
lie struck at my throat, but l warded it
oil; the next lick and he cut me again
and again. felt tho keen edge of his
knife. Then he jumped and run. Alcck
was was not drunk, and L don't know
why io wanted to kill us. Did not
know dad was killed until Just before
you came. The shot must have walked
me-"
In the room Dow Locket lay on his
side with his eyes closed in sleep. He
evidently died without struggle, and
never knew what killed him. A double
barrel gun lay on the floor, with it's
muzzlo not six inches from his head 1t
was his own gun, and the assassin had to
step over his sleeping form to get it
from the racK.
Sheriff Ilillsman at once sent for Toon
PowolIs dogs. The animals took up
the scent without trouble, running in
tho direction of Newton county. When
last heard from they wore half way be-
tween Madison and Atlanta, while the
pursuing party of whites and blacks was
being increased as it went along by peo-
pie anxious to Join in tho lylIchin0 of
the triple murderer.